The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1887-02-17
A Study OFA BLUE-JAY.

Investigating everything in the room |
is one of my birds greatest pleasures, |
and most attractive of all he finds the |
drawer of my desk, on the edge of
which he stands delighted and be-
wildered by the variety before him.
Great would be the havoc if | were not
there; and the curious thing about it is
that he will pull things over carelessly,
with one eye on me, to see II object
If, on touching some particular thing,
he sees that do not ;tpprove,-and he
recognizes my sentiment as quickly as
a bright child would,-that thing, and
that only, he will have. AT once he
snatches it and flies away across the
room, and | may chase him in vain.
He regards it as a frolic got up for his
amusement and no child ever equaled
him in dodging; he cannot be driven.
and if cornered he uses his wings.
simply put my wits against his, follow
him about till he has to drop his load
to breathe. when a sudden start sends
him off. and | secure it. If | cover up
ANYTHING, he knows at once it is some
| forbidden treasure, and devotes all his
energy and cunning, which are great,
to uncovering and possessing himself
of it. He opens any box by delivering
sharp blows under the edge OF the
cover, and hides my postage-stamps in
| books and magazines. He hops around
the floor in heavy way, as often side
ways as straight, and holds his toes as
close together as though he had worn
! tight boots all his life. If startled, he
bounds up into the air in the oldest
way, foot or two, or even more, gem
orally turning half around and coming
down with his head the other way. If
much alarmed, he will bounce up in
this way half a dozen times in quick
succession. and should he happen to be
on a table at the time he usually ends
bv landing on the floor. His alighting
after any flight is most singular; he
comes to the floor in crouching posi-
ten, legs sprawled, body horizontal
and nearly touching the mating, look
ING like a bird gone mad; then instant
lv springs up six OF eight inches, half
turns, and stands upright, crest erect,
and looking excited almost frightened.
If much disturbed. he comes down
with wings half open, tail held up, and
every feather awry, us if he were out
in gale, uttering at the same time a
loud squawk. He is most expert
catcher, not only seizing without fail a
canary seed thrown to him, but even
fluttering bits of falling paper, the
hardest OF all things to catch.
The blue-jay is Il bird of opinions
about most things, and able to express
himself quite clearly; as, for example
L ,,nIa,. ol,
without rounds, on which he likes tC
perch, he stood and looked around or
every side. and made a low, complain
ing cry, plainly protest against Sc
unnatural a chair; and again when he
scolded at the rain that came in suddeI
gusts against the window, or charged
; furiously at the crack under dool
when he heard sweeping outside. Ii
general he is very quiet when one is il
the room. but the moment the doc
closes behind the last person his voice
is heard, whistling exactly like boy
| calling, squawking, and occasionall.
tittering Il sweet though not Loud song
which is varied by II sound like rub
, bing a cork against glass. The mos
quiet approach shences him. Whel
unuef SlfOnS e1llOiioI Ht may Sdud"i
or scream before spectators, but h
} never whistles or sings when he know
any one is in the room. When out o
his sight, and SO long silent that HI
has forgotten me, have now and thel
heard the song.
The funniest thing this knowing fel
, low does is to stamp his feet, and it
l a genuine expression of impatience o
= displeasure. When | take something
: away from him, or he thinks | mean t
do so, OF refuse him something h
wants. he stands still, and jerks hi
, feet in such a way that they STAN
| with loud sound. as if they were O
; iron. 1t is very droll. In seriou
: anger, he adds to this, bowling an
t curtsying by bending the legs, snap
t ping the bill, pecking, and jumping u
5 with the body without lifting the feet
-Olire Thornc Miller in atlantic.